19 Super Eagles players depart Abuja for Madagascar - Nineteen players of the Nigeria's Super Eagles departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, for Antananarivo Wednesday, with players in high hopes of securing victory against Madagascar in the CAN Group B qualifier.

This will position the team for a win over Guinea in Abuja for the Group B ticket for the tournament, to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012.

Speaking at a media parley before the team’s departure, Super Eagles returnee and German Bundesliga-based striker, Chinedu Obasi Ogbuke, promised to use the game to reward his numerous Nigerian fans, who had been clamouring for his return to the team as well as those who prayed for him during his injury.

The Hoffenheim forward, who was making his return to the team after coach Samson Siasia decided to drop him following the friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos, added that he would go the extra mile not to disappoint the Nigerians who expected the team to win in Antananarivo.

'This will put us in a better position for the group ticket, when they play Guinea in the last group match later in Abuja.

In the same vein, Super Eagles' second choice and Israeli-based goalkeeper, Dele Aiyenugba, expressed optimism that the team would not leave Madagascar with anything short of an outright victory.

The former Enyimba FC of Aba goalkeeper noted that the players were aware of what is at stake in the game, assuring that they would approach the game with every seriousness it deserves.

'The most important thing is the victory and we have to work extra hard to ensure we win, especially against Madagascar this weekend,” Aiyenugba assured.

Aiyenugba, who also spoke on the difficulty in Nigerian and African goalkeepers securing clubs in Europe, lamented that most European clubs did not have confidence in African goalkeepers.

“The truth is that the European clubs do not believe in African goalkeepers but the most important thing is that we have to go the extra mile to utilize the chances we get. We can’t do anything other than work and wait for opportunity to come and that is why we are happy with Enyeama’s contract,” he said.

He described the relationship among Nigerians players in Israel as very cordial.

Pana 01/09/2011